THE TRAVEL industry has hailed a Government decision to reduce Air Passenger Duty on low-cost flights as a victory for common sense.
Chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown took the decision to counter the impact of a new tax on the return leg of domestic flights.
In a pre-budget statement to MPs last week, Brown said: “Now that the return leg exemption of APD has been declared in breach of single market law, I am today starting a pre-budget consultation on replacing it with a new lower rate for lower fares. These changes will be revenue neutral.”
British Incoming Tour Operators’ Association chief executive Richard Tobias, who has led an industry-wide campaign against further rises in APD, said: “The F-Air Passenger Duty for all campaign has scored a small victory for common sense.”
He praised Travel Weekly’s role in backing the campaign. “We are very grateful for the support Travel Weekly has given to our campaign. It’s a perfect example of how the industry and the industry’s leading trade paper, working together, can achieve identifiable and workable benefits.”
nSee Comment, page 6 and Viewpoint page 11